New to hermies and wanting to adopt more?

[TheCozyFeathers]

I'm new to hermit crabs. I did a ton of research for weeks and finally took home 3 purple pinchers from Petco a few days ago. I knew none of them were happy when I peered into the tank at the store. Stuffed in those painted shells, and Petco even had crickets running around in there bothering them. When I asked the lady working there why crickets were in the tank, she nonchalantly said that they get in from the reptiles tanks next to them. There was no effort at all made to remove the crickets. Anyway, I now have 3 beauties, and they have all changed out of their painted shells. You should have seen the frenzy. So much excitement. 16 shells for 3 crabs, they were in heaven.

* I don't know how to put photos in here and I don't know if you can, so I'm using Flickr url. Hope this works.
Please feel free to look at all the photos on my Flickr. It's only the hermit crabs.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/128134215 ... 960433875/

From left to right:

Rusty, Clarance, and Opaque


This is their crabitat. It's a plastic tote turned into Hermit Beach.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/128134215 ... 960432905/

They have 2 hiding spaces, one that actually is a plastic fish bowl turned into a deep under sand cave. Food dish with hermit crab food, veggies, and the occasional treats, water dish, salt pool and fresh water pool, tons of shells to choose from (hard to see them in that photo), fake plant for climbing, thermometer, and a heating pad that's hard to see. I don't have a humidity gauge yet but will be purchasing one. I spray the inside for humidity and keep the lid on either all the time or partially when I use the lights. There are holes in the lid of course.

The temperature stays at 75-80.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/128134215 ... hotostream

I have no idea how many gallons this tote is. But it measures 20"L x 12"W x 10.5"H.

Any idea on how many gallons that is? I'm thinking close to but less than 20 gallons.

Can I bring home anymore crabs? I feel bad for all those miserable ones at the stores

I love seeing happy crabs

[CallaLily]

Welcome to the HCA!

Here's an aquarium calculator: http://www.fishlore.com/ConversionCalculator.htm. I would not recommend adding any more crabs to that size. Here's an article that will help you when deciding how many crabs: http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... 26&t=92541. Keep in mind that small crabs can grow quickly.

When you upgrade your crabitat and have the room, please keep adoption in mind. Purchasing from stores only supports more hermit crabs being collected from the wild. You can check out our adoption section here at the HCA and also the HCA Facebook page. Keeping an eye out on Craigslist (or similar site) is also an option.

Take a look at our Caresheet section, if you haven't already. http://hermitcrabassociation.com/phpBB/ ... m.php?f=51 There's loads of info there worth taking the time to read through it all. Good luck with your crabbing. I look forward to more pics/posts.

[TheCozyFeathers]

Thanks so much for responding. It makes me sad knowing those hermies at the store aren't happy. But I understand the whole -when you buy, they get more to supply- thing. I'll definitely take a look at those links. Thanks a bunch.

*Also just realized that apparently my tote is no bigger than a 10 gallon O.O I'm definitely not schooled in calculating gallons X___X.

[Crabinski]

Very nice-looking crabs: no missing limbs is a great victory coming from a pet store, especially from a Petco. It's a good sign that they all changed shells from the painted ones -- the two new small guys I adopted from craigslist a little over two weeks ago refused to give up their nasty paint jobs but one, PakyRaku, finally changed to a nice green turbo two days ago (the other has been buried - in his painted shell - for two weeks).

I like the buried "cave" idea but have to ask what type of sand you're using. As it looks "sparkly", I'm wondering if it's calci-sand. If so, you'll want to change that out before the crabs go down to destress or molt. Just follow the care sheets to create a good mixture of play sand and Eco Earth although some crabbers use only playsand and some (like me) only Eco Earth.

That hygrometer is a "must" as humidity is the trickiest element to control and virtually impossible to do without the aid of a hygrometer. You can pick up a digital Acurite combination thermometer/hygrometer at Home Depot or Walmart for about $10. I like the Acurite as it shows the high and low temp and humidity for the past 24 hours. That really helps to see if you need to boost the heat or moisture (leaving the light on a bit more, adding a moss pit -- definitely recommended as the crabs love it -- , etc). Just follow the Crab Care instructions for calibrating the hygrometer and you'll be good to go!

[aussieJJDude]

I love your tote tank!
The only thing I would suggest it making the substrate at least 6 inches deep in all areas! Otherwise, thats all I can say, everyone else has said the other things I would lookout for/change ect.

BTW, i see that you just joined! Welcome to HCA, I really hope you like it here.

[TheCozyFeathers]

Thanks for all the replies, as it is most appreciated. For substrate, I read that the cheapest way to safely fill a tote this size is play sand. So I bought a 50lb bag of it at Lowes for roughly $4. It's for children and says that it's strained and sanitized. I got it to sand castle consistency by spraying it with dechlorinated water and added it to the tote. I read that calcium sand isn't good for them and boy wouldn't that be expensive to fill this thing...those bags are so small and costly. I have thought about changing the tote around to make the sand level even everywhere. When I was making the under-sand cave, I didn't want the hill too steep, so I guess in my sand building, I ended up creating a rather uneven terrain. In the future I'm sure I'll make changes. I've already revamped the tote 6 times in 2 days, in my anxious worry over everything being perfect X_X. P.S. Clarence has a section on the end of one leg missing. Can't really be seen in those photos, but I notice it when he puts that leg up against something. I'm blessed that they came in that well. I know they aren't treated very nicely throughout the whole process from shore to store.

Thanks again for all the help. The hermies say hi

[aussieJJDude]

If the shallowest side is at least 6 inches, then it should be fine, however if it like 2 inches then I think adding some more substrate would be a good idea.

Haha, don't worry we all like that. Even now I still like that.

[TheCozyFeathers]

I've definitely got some revamping to do. Is it strange that the hermits like rolling down the hill when they grab onto a shell they like? O.O Strange hermies.

[Hermit-Yote]

I've started to avoid buying crabs from petco and petsmart. I totally understand that seeing them makes you want to rescue them, but for every one you buy, they'll order a box more.

There's some great folks on here that adopt hermits out, check out theadoptions forums!

[TheCozyFeathers]

I'll need to upgrade for sure if I get more. When I do, I won't go anywhere else but straight to adoption.